Automatic flushing device for water-closets



(No Model.)

R. M. REILLY; AUTOMATIC FLUSHI NG DEVICE FOR WATER GLOSETS. No. 450,376.

Patented Apr. 14,1891.

ill- 's" I 2650 rwey rrnn TATES ROBERT MICHAEL REILLY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,376, dated April 14, 1891.

Application filed March 20, 1890.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT MICHAEL REILLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Flushing Devices for ater-Closets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,sucl1 as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

I My invention relates to the class of closetcisterns or flushing devices for-water-closets; and it consists of certain details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described in the specification, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claims. Its objects are to provide an inexpensive and simple flushing-cistern for use in connection with water-closets, which will automatically discharge its contents at desired or stated intervals and wherein the intervals may be regulated by the water supply. These objects are accomplished by means of a novel arrangement of pipes, valve, float, and valve-chamber placed within the cistern, whereby the valve is automatically opened by the pressure of the water when the desired quantity is contained in the cistern and automatically closed by suction after a given quantity of water has been discharged, as will more fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of a cistern provided with my improved operating devices arranged therein, showing the valve seated. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the valve raised. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve-chamber and valve-seat. Fig. 4: is a detail view of valve. Fig. 5 is a modification showing the flexible ring secured to the guide-bar at the top of the tank, through which the valve-stem proj ects, adapted to engage a groove in the valvestem.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A indicates a suitable tank or cistern, which may be constructed of any desired material ormaterials and of any suitable dimensions. Said tank is, as usual, arranged at a point sufficiently above the closet to af- Serial No. 344,672. (No model.)

ford a strong flow of water to the basin. At one side of the bottom of the tank is a threaded opening a for the reception of a threaded nipple a, to which may be screwed the water-pipe for supplying water to the cistern. This supply-pipe may, however, enter the tank at any other point, if desired.

B indicates a valve-chamber located upon the bottom of the cistern and provided on its under side with a threaded stem 1), projecting through an opening 1) in the bottom, and upon the extremity of which is placed a nut adapted to be screwed up tightly against the bottom of the tank or cistern for the purpose of securing the valve-chamber firmly in place. This valve-chamber is provided at one side with a horizontal pipe B, preferably made integral therewith and adapted to connect with asi milar horizontal pipe eiextending from near the foot of the long or outlet leg of the siphon E or on the floor of the cistern.

' e is the mouth of the siphon located slightly above the floor of the tank or cistern, and 2 its outlet, which may be screw-threaded and adapted to connect with the discharge-pipe leading to the bowl or basin of the closet.

The valve-chamber is enlarged near its upper end to form a shoulder b upon which is placed a rubber or other flexible or elastic ring b to form a valve-seat. This ring is held in place by means of the metallic ring 19 fitting within the enlarged portion of the valve-chamber and provided with cars If, by means of which it is bolted down to similar ears b projecting from the valve-chamber.

0 represents the valve, adapted to fit Withinand close the valve-chamber, as shown in Fig. 1. This valve is provided with a stem 0 upon which is secured a float D, preferably composed of a hollow metallic sphere. The

upper end (1 of the valve-stem, projecting above the ball or float, is made to pass through a guide-opening d in a guide-strip (1 secured at the top of the tank, and its lower end 0 beneath the valve is made to pass through an opening 0 in a similar guide-strip c in the valve-chamber.

The valve 0 may or may not be made hollow, as preferred, and an annular groove C may be provided on its exterior face near the bottom to receive the inner edge of the flexible or elastic ring b when the valve is closed,

as shown in Fig. 1. C is a disk or flange at the top of the valve adapted to fit within the recess formed by the ring I) when the valve is down.

Having thus described in detail the various parts of my device, I will proceed to describe its operation. Water is introduced into the tank or cistern through the inletpipe a in any desired quantity, the valve being closed, and gradually fills the cistern until the upward pressure upon the float cxerts a power sufficient to release the valve from the retaining-grip of the elastic ring I), which incloses it, and occupies the groove 0, exerting a strong holding power sufficient to keep the valve closed until the water has risen to the desired height inthe cistern. At this point the valve is released and the valve- ,chamber and its outlet into the foot of the siphon charged by the water rushing through, which creates a strong suction or downward pressure upon the valve when the float falls with the water suflicient to bring the valve "near its seat, causing it to again close upon its seat and creating a vacuum in channel 6 of the siphon sufficient to start the flow through the siphon, which is continued until the tank is'exhaus'ted, when the operation is repeated.

WhileI have shown theelastic holding-rin g secured within the valve-chamber and adapt ed to fit within and occupy the groove 0 in the Valve for the purpose of affording sufflcientresistance to retard the opening of the valve until the required amount of water is received in the tank, I do not confine myself to this construction, as it is obvious thatthe same effect may be accomplished by forming the groove 0 or a resisting-flange in the valvestem above the float,as shown in Fig. 5, or at.

any other point where a proper seat can be formed for the inclosing ring without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is also obvious that the siphon may be entirely dispensed with without interfering with the periodical automatic discharge, which in such case willcease when the valve is drawn back to its seat by the suction.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. A periodical flushing apparatus consisting of a tank, an outlet-valve, a flexible holdin g-ring engaging said valve, grooved connections between said flexible ring and valve, whereby thering exerts a retarding or holding influence on the action of the valve, and

a float connected with the valve, whereby the valve is suddenly unseatedwhen the liftingpower of the float overcomes the resisting power of the flexible ring and withdraws it from the groove, substantially as described.

2. In a flushing device for water-closets, the combination, with a cistern provided with a suitable water -inlet and a dischargingsiphon, of a valve-chamber connecting the outlet-leg of the discharging-siphon near its foot within the tank, a valve adapted to close the valve-chamber, a float attached to the valve-stem, and a flexible ring engaging the valve when closed and adapted to exert a retarding influence against the action of the float, substantially as described.

3. In a flushing device for water-closets, consisting of a tank provided with a suitable water-inlet and a siphon discharge-pipe, the combination, 'with the discharge-pipe, of a valve-chamber com n unic'ating therewith, a valve adapted to close said chamber, a'float attached to the valve-stem and adapted to automatically open said valve by the pressure of thewater in the tank,an d a flexiblean'nular disk engaging said valve and adapted to resist the pressure exerted by'the float and retard the opening of the valve, substantially as described.

l. In a flushing-tank having a siphon discharge-pipe and valve-chamber communicating therewith, the combination, with the valve and the float by which the valve is automatically opened, of a flexible ring adapted to exert a resistance upon the valve against the action of the float, substantiallyas described.

5. In a flushing-tank constructed as described, the combination, with the valve and its stem and the valve-chamber, of the flexible holding-ring adapted to exert aretainin'g influence on thevalve when closed,"'substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a flushing-tank, as described, the combination, with the Valve provided with'the annular groove and attached to theliftingfloat by its stem, of the fixed flexible ring forming the valve-seat and occupying the annular groove in the valve when the latter is closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT MICHAEL REILLY.

Witnesses:

FELIX R. SULLIVAN, NOAH CLAUK. 

